NBA insider says Houston Rockets could trade Jalen Green

The Houston Rockets have extended Jalen Green.

Many were surprised by the decision. Green has been wildly inconsistent. Why commit to him? Shouldn't the Rockets have seen his 2024-25 performance before offering him a deal?

It's a matter of debate. Green's deal is uniquely structured. He signed a three-year pact with a Player Option in the third season. That's a short deal relative to a standard rookie extension.

Even that's a sore subject for some. The Rockets have been praised for preserving flexibility with Green's future. They've also been criticized for removing the potential upside in Green's deal. If he breaks out, the Rockets won't get his services at a discount. Typically, that's the hope with a rookie scale extension.

Perhaps the Rockets had an ulterior motive. Brian Windhorst of ESPN seems to think so.

NBA insider says Rockets could trade Green

Firstly, shout out to Chris Gorman. He's a quality follow on X. Gorman aggregates vital Rockets information regularly.

This is no exception. It's an especially juicy tidbit. Windhorst is a legitimate NBA insider. He's got a plethora of connections. When he speaks, he should listen.

There's also some logic in his statement. Green's new contract would be easier to move than a standard rookie extension. He'll be on an expiring deal in just two seasons. Even if Green has been extremely disappointing, teams will take on the last year of his deal with draft incentives attached.

Is that the Rockets' plan?

Rockets prioritizing flexibility

Let's not put the cart before the horse.

The Rockets would like Green to explode. That would be ideal for everyone.

He has already developed visible off-court chemistry with Alperen Sengun. He was also recently extended—by all accounts, at a discount. Nobody should rule anything out regarding the Rockets, but Sengun seems to be part of the future.

Moreover, the idea of Green remains tantalizing. He still possesses the outlier athletic gifts that made him the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Why would the Rockets want to move him if he makes good on his potential?

After all, he won't be moved on his own. If the Rockets trade Jalen Green, it will mean that Jalen Green has not performed well. If that's true by his fifth season in the NBA, you won't find an optimist who's naive enough to invest in him. Trading him would mean attaching a hefty number of assets in the process.

So, it's doubtful that Houston inked Green's extension with hopes of trading him. It is overwhelmingly likely that they kept the possibility in mind by signing a shorter-term deal. The 2024-25 season should be pivotal for Green:

Let's see if he makes good on his new extension.